US imposes new Russia sanctions ahead of Ukraine peace talks

The United States imposed sanctions Friday on Russian-controlled Crimea as Ukraine announced the loss of five soldiers ahead of peace talks meant to end a war against Russian-backed insurgents. President Barack Obama prohibited American exports of goods or services to Crimea, a strategic peninsula and vacation destination that Russian seized from Ukraine last March. “The United States will not accept Russia’s occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea,” Obama said in a statement.